The first of a two-part article in FacilitiesNet explores the benefits of a comprehensive facility risk assessment that can help protect your building and facilities from unforseen circumstances, weather incidents and other inherent risks. Elisa Paone, principal and Barbara Gao, senior project director, sustainability at Thornton Tomasetti, spoke with the reporter about these considerations. Read part one of the article here.

After the shooting at 345 Park Avenue, building owners are reevaluating their security measures and staffing levels, and reviewing emergency communications systems they have in place. Peggy Phillips, who leads Thornton Tomasetti’s protective design and security practice, talks with The Real Deal about security features that can be incorporated or activated to make a building safer, in both new and retrofitted buildings. See the full article here.

Pawel Woelke, Juan Londono and Peter Johnson of Thornton Tomasetti author the first in a two-part article that examines the risks associated with lithium-ion batteries in parking garages and other confined spaces and evaluating approaches for attempting to minimize these risks. The first article looks at potential mechanisms by which a lithium-ion battery can enter thermal runaway, a failure mechanism that releases toxic, flammable gases and can lead to a fire and possibly an explosion. Read part 1 here.